I spent the day yesterday in a flurry of activity. Perhaps it was because I was feeling more like myself but I also think that it was because I wanted to tie up some loose ends and start the new year off properly. I found myself full of energy as I tidied up things and organized and put everything in its place. It felt really good to do so after the chaos of the holiday season.

Keith was busy preparing several pens for turning. While he hadn’t heard how the three shops that carried his pens did in the month of December, he wasn’t really optimistic in regards to having lots of sales. It seems that the economy is just too dismal in our area and without the tourists being brought here by the ferry, the local people can ill afford to splurge on buying expensive pens.

I am pleased to see however that Keith has adopted some of my optimistic attitude. While he is a native to ‘black cloud thinking’ (by his own admission, mind you!) I believe that consorting with the likes of a ‘pink cloud thinker’ (me!) has done much to mellow his attitude and soften his hard views.

In other words, he is taking things in stride and has adopted an attitude that he is going to make more higher end pens that he thinks are wonderful and start his own collection of his own work. Whether they sell or not is inconsequential to him. He likes to make them and wants to continue to make them better and better with the first priority to be the sheer joy of accomplishment. (THAT’s the spirit!) Nothing could make me happier.

I find that doing things for your own pleasure first is a hand’s down win/win scenario. I further find that you can always tell by the quality of someone’s work whether they are making things solely for profit, or because they truly love to create. Unfortunately, this is what leads many talented and creative people to underselling their wares, as they tend to settle for much lower wages in order to be able to perpetuate their craft. Depending on the situation, this could be the breaking point for many artists, and has been in the past.

But seeing my partner adopt this attitude of creating for the sake of creating is a wonderful step, I feel. It is a pleasure for me to watch him develop and grow not only as a craftsman, but as a business man also.

The other day, he was in the bank and the teller that was attending him asked him if he was my ‘significant other who makes the beautiful pens.’ When he replied affirmatively, she asked him if he could bring in some samples for her to see in order to purchase one. While he felt odd doing so, I encouraged him to do so right away and he soon brought his pens back for inspection. When he arrived home, he told me that he had sold no less than FOUR pens! I was so happy for him. I know it will only be a matter of time before word gets out and he finds the right clientele. It only reinforces my thinking that ‘things that are worthwhile take time’. I know in my heart when the time is right his pen business will flourish.

I did finish my drawing yesterday and the new project is ready for me to cut today. It has been a couple of weeks since I have been at the saw, so it will be a welcome task for me to do. I am anxious to see the transformation of the design from paper to wood and I think it will be a good one. I know I like it and again, that is the important thing.

I suppose today would be a good day to transform my little tree again from ‘Christmas’ to ‘Winter.’ The multi-colored lights will be replaced with white ones for the upcoming season. Unfortunately, I don’t have any type of fun ornaments that are just winter themed. (Imagine!!) Well, that will be something that I will certainly have to rectify very soon! You can see how easy it is for me to come up with ideas! I have several in mind already.

What I have been working on is more of a Valentine’s theme, as many of you have correctly guessed. We need to update the site in the next week and it made sense to skip over and work ahead to February to give others time to play with the new patterns.

In any case, there is a long list of things for me to accomplish in the upcoming year. I am happy because it seems that I am in a good place creatively and have lots of things to work on. The well here is far from dry.

Last night, I must say that I pooped out somewhere around 11pm. Perhaps I am getting old, but I think it is more because I am in a happy place and feel good about things. I talked to both the kids yesterday and my daughter called again this morning. She had worked until 4am her time (which is 6am my time) and she was still up and saw I was up already. It was a nice long phone visit this time and it is good to hear from her and see what a wonderful young lady she is becoming.

So off to the saw for me. Later on we are having dinner at Keith’s parents house – an unexpected and welcome invitation! The menu is baked ham and scalloped potatoes and it will hit the spot after a day of work. It’s a good way to start off the year!

I wish you all well and hope you also enjoy the day! Once again – Happy New Year to everyone!

happy new year Sheila an Keith may it bring full ordrebooks to both of you :-)of for now a new repaired hangover wants to be brought home … and when my shift is over 5 ours from now I have to bring Silke to the specialist dentist in Århus before we overnight at my mother … last night there was too many fireworks on the sky to be able to sleep…......no rest for the busy ones I gess … LOL